WHY GO: Because being a grown up all the time gets boring – or because you have little ones!
FOR HOW LONG: 2 weeks minimum – you still won’t want to leave
WHAT'S MY BUDGET: This is a once a year, maybe once in a lifetime trip. Save up, and book in advance. All in, £2000+ for a couple.
WHERE TO STAY: Self-catered villas, all the way.
GETTING AROUND: Hire car is an absolute must!
LANGUAGE: Good ol’ Southern style American English
If you were born in the nineties, I think it would be hard not to have grown up believing that, in the end, all your dreams would come true.
Cue 27 years on and potentially Donald Trump is the only remaining believer of this wonderful Disney lie. BUT luckily for those older Disney-loving cynics, there is still a place on earth where negativity is non-existent, happiness is turned up to 5 million percent and grown men walk about in Mickey Mouse ears. Yep, it’s Orlando Florida. I’ve been going to the Sunshine State since I was as tall as Erin and, whilst the Theme Parks are a big part of it, there’s tonnes more to do there too. Read on for just a flavour!
TRIP PREP
If you're flights are booked, then get onto accommodation. I'm definitely one for a villa when in Orlando. You can spend afternoons hanging out by your private pool and staying in to cook is a great way to save cash, with the added bonus of nobody else’s screaming kids to disturb your sunbathe! Luckily for you, Pocket Rockets has an E-X-C-L-U-S-I-V-E offer on this BEAUTIFUL family villa which is super close to all the best bits! Just subscribe to Pocket Rockets using the box below, and get for a 10% discount! I know right - easy as pie!
So, the tickets. My absolute best advice for the Theme Parks is to get yourself a Disney & Universal COMBO ticket. It gives you the freedom to go in and out to whichever you so please, meaning you can park hop and get more for your money. Price a shock? I know it's a lot, but once you've bought your tickets, there's tonnes of ways you can save money in other place. Fret not, these tips can be seen here!
THE THEME PARKS
Stuck on what parks to go for? No problem.
FOR RIDE LOVERS –
Harry Potter Fans, prepare to find your Mecca. This is just about the closest you can get to receiving an invitation by Owl Post to Hogwarts! Islands of Adventure has a life size Hogwarts, within which, you can journey through the familiar classrooms and greenhouses straight onto a seriously thrilling ride with HP himself!
On top of this you can stroll the streets of Hogsmeade, try Butterbeer, and get your own wand! With the combo ticket you could take the Hogwarts Express over to Diagon Alley (Universal Studios) and head into Gringotts or race on the duelling dragons!
And that’s not it, these two parks have something for everyone. Here are my favourite rides not to miss out on!:
Revenge of the Mummy® the Ride – You think this one is chilled at first but prepare yourself for a shock!
Hip Hop Rock it Coaster – Choose an individual song to play as you ride! Plus they video you as you go
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man® - Definitely one for all the family but get in early to avoid long queues.
Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls® - I promise you won’t get wet…and I promise I am lying!
FOR KIDS –
Magic Kingdom really is the beating heart of Disney Land. Children find themselves walking into a fantastical dreamland filled with their favourite characters lining the walkways, illuminated parades of singing creatures swarming the streets and exciting rides in every corner! There’s plenty for everyone here including a packed performance itinerary, and definitely don’t miss the nightly Fireworks display – utter magic.
INSTEAD OF THE BEACH -
There are plenty of brilliant water parks in Florida - so why this one? Simply because it’s had the most recent refurb. The rides are fresh and exciting; some flumes even blare music at you as you shoot through in your tube! I’d definitely recommend the Water Parks over the Beach in Orlando as you can spend your day being entertained or just chill by the wave pool if you prefer to relax – it’s got options for everyone! One annoying thing about Wet’N’Wild is that you can’t take your own food inside. They say snacks only, and they will throw out your sandwiches if you try and sneak them past!
Also worth keeping in mind, if you're Seaworld hater? (Of course you are!) Then also don’t go anywhere near Busch Gardens - they are owned by the same people…bu-bye. (Unsure why you should hate Seaworld? Go watch Blackfish. NOW.)
OTHER FUN STUFF TO DO IN THE DAY
Florida is home to 2 National Football League teams, two Major League Baseball Teams and two National Basketball Teams.
My husband and I bought ourselves a couple of baseball hats and headed over to watch the Tampa Bay Rays. They may not be the best Baseball team around but the Americans really make an event of their sports and the result is seriously entertaining! At half time the mascots race each other around the field and cheerleaders shoot t-shirts into the crowd. Each player is introduced on the big screen and the crowd go wild throughout the game. Oh, and at the end… there’s a good ol’ country western performance! Yee-Ha!
Wekiwa Springs State Park is the perfect way to escape the crowds and experience a little taste of nature. A huge natural Lake surrounded by woodland makes for a great swim with the locals. There’s BBQ spots, plus you can rent a canoe or a Kayak and head upstream to catch yourself some wildlife – alligators and all!
No, not Shrek’s Swamp – you’ll have to head to Universal Studios for that! Lake Kissimmee is the 3rd largest Lake in Florida boasting 36,000 acres of untouched, natural wetland. The airboat tour takes you out on a private boat in search of the incredible wildlife: alligators, bald eagles, wild pigs (and more), can all be spotted on this fantastic 60-minute journey through the real Florida.
FUN PLACES TO EAT
You can’t really go to Florida and avoid fast food. It’s everywhere.
But 3 which aim to give you a break from the all you can eat buffet of grease:
A true representation of the South. Rocking chairs greet you as you enter this quaint family-run restaurant. Grammy will serve you your sweet tea in her bonnet as her grand-daughter fetches you the menus. The food is wholesome and delicious. For steak-lovers I recommend the Thursday night steak night – but go hungry - portion control is not something they’re concerned about here! Plus, you’ll want to save some room for their award-winning desert.
Here, each table has their own private chef to cook and serve up their food. Not only is it delicious, but the whole experience is great to watch! The chef’s make it inclusive and exciting plus you get to meet the strangers on your table and have a laugh with them as you eat.
Sweet Tomatoes is the perfect place to take a break from the deep fried. A counter as long as the restaurant serves up an impressive variety of fresh veg, salads and delicious pasta dishes. It may look like a prison canteen but you can feed the whole family for less than $30 and they won’t be disappointed.
OTHER FUN STUFF TO DO IN THE EVENING
It’s time to embrace a bit of good ol’ country western at this hilarious country bar. Girls get in free, plus a free shot at the bar on the hour - You’ll be kicking your heels up in no time!
I didn’t know what to expect when I got tickets to see the Blue Man Group and I was seriously blown away. ‘Flare’, ‘creativity’, ‘originality’ – all words which spring to mind writing about these guys. They continue to surprise and excite the entire way through the performance, which is no mean feat. The theatre is right on Universal Walk too - a strip with plenty of bars and places to eat.
Do not miss the late night laser show at MGM as part of your park tickets! Performed on a huge lake it combines water and projection with live performance, fireworks and music to create the ultimate spectacle! If you have been to MGM in the day you can head back in for free later for the show. Get in early though as it soon fills up and you’ll want a middle seat!
So - ready for a trip to Orlando?! You just need some tips on howto do a theme park holiday without having a stress attach?! Don't worry - they're here. All that's left to do, is put your email in the subscription box below to get exclusive discounts on accomodation!
Comments